I am truly addicted to diet soda and don’t know how to quit…any suggestions?

I am truly addicted to diet soda and don’t know how to quit…any suggestions? -Allison

Good for you that you recognize it’s time to give up the soda!
• Do it slowly. Don’t try to quit cold-turkey or you might experience withdrawal symptoms such as moodiness, headaches, irritability, and tiredness.
o Instead, reduce by one can/glass every 2-3 days so that you’re weaning off over a couple of weeks.
• Find another fix for your caffeine, such as iced or hot green tea.
• Drink water for hydration. Try it with lemon or cucumber.
• Get carbonation elsewhere, as in seltzer (also caffeine and sodium-free).
• Replace the soda ritual with something else soothing to you. Find something brief that is under 2 minutes. Now’s the time to try giving yourself a head massage!
• Readjust your thinking. Change your perspective about how diet soda fits into a healthy diet. Many people have the mentality that it’s acceptable because there are no calories.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

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Debbie James is a registered dietitian. Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or recommendations of Fitness International, LLC.

Flavored seltzer helped me kick the diet soda I loved so much. I found the name brands were a little tastier than the cheaper ones. Now I have a diet soda once in a while when eating a certain food but it is no longer my main beverage lunch and dinner :) Good Luck!